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Family health and nutrition:Norovirus

What is Norovirus? Have you had it?

By MARCIA WEBER

Updated:
05/13/2013 03:53:38 PM EDT

Marcia Weber (courtesy)

I had the opportunity to attend the Food Safety Summit which was held in Baltimore this month, and my first session featured norovirus -- you know, the virus we hear about associated with cruise ships.

I learned that it is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year more than 20 million cases of acute gastroenteritis are caused by noroviruses. That means about one in every 15 Americans will get norovirus illness each year.

The good news is that norovirus illness is usually not serious. Most people get better in 1 1/2 to 2 days. But norovirus illness can be serious in young children, the elderly and people with other health conditions; it can lead to severe dehydration, hospitalization and even death. It is estimated to cause more than 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year in the United States.

Anyone can be infected with noroviruses and get sick. You also can get the virus more than once during your life.

Illness often begins suddenly; you may feel very sick, with stomach cramping, throwing up, or diarrhea.

Other, less common symptoms may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and general sense of fatigue.

Norovirus is one of the leading causes of disease from contaminated foods in the United States. Food most commonly involved in foodborne norovirus outbreaks include leafy greens (such as lettuce), fresh fruit, and shellfish (such as oysters).

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However, any food item that is served raw or handled after being cooked can become contaminated.

Norovirus can spread quickly from person to person in crowded, closed places such as long-term care facilities, day care centers, schools and hotels, and it is often associated with cruise ships. It can also be a major cause of gastroenteritis in restaurants and catered-meal settings if contaminated food is served.

You can get sick by:

-- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus (someone gets stool or vomit on their hands, and then touches food or drink).

-- Having direct contact with a person who is infected (caring for someone with the illness, sharing food or eating utensils with them).

Most people with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover. But some people may be contagious for even longer.

There is no vaccine to prevent the infection, nor are there any drugs to treat people who get sick from the virus. Antibiotics will not help, because antibiotics fight against bacteria, not viruses. The best way to reduce your chance of getting norovirus is by following some simple tips.

-- Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food.

-- Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.

-- People with norovirus illness should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for three days after they recover.

-- If someone in your household is sick with norovirus, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label. If no such cleaning product is available, use a solution made with 5 tablespoons to 1 1/2 cups of household bleach for each gallon of water.

-- Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully - without agitating them - to avoid spreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

Let's keep Noroviurs away from our families and loved ones so we can enjoy the activities we have planned for the upcoming summer season!

Marcia Weber is York County's Penn State Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences educator and certified food safety instructor.